Apparatus for causing variable flow of air in treating rooms



June 6, 1950 A. A. scHRAMM 2,510,524

APPARATUS FOR CAUSING VARIABLE FLOW OF AIR IN TREATING ROMS f/ ATTORNEY June 6, 1950 A. A. scHRAMM 2,510,524

APPARATUS FOR cAusING VARIABLE FLow oF AIR 1N TREATING Rooms Filed Nov. 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 1l

67 86 77 13" s 87 98 l T12 67 95 54. FIG. 9 IQ*- /6/,f- "Uf 54u54 65116566 66 8f 75 l 83 95 G O O 7; Il.. L m l e o e o @6 87 I w o o o n@ O l i l 27 l ge 6..; 67 69469 FIG. 15 1,716. 14.

lll u? 4 H5 [NVE/#TOR ALEX A. SCHRAMM .4 o

115 4 Agi-DARNEY Patented .une 6, 1.9540

UNITED' :STATES APPARTUS Y0F AIR 'IN TREATING ROMS' Alex. A. Schramm, Munefln". Applicafimi- November 14, 1947', serieu' Nb; v'giiziv" (C1. sagaz):

4 Claims.

In pincet-luresl as Vlai-tnertal tla'e treating -of articles placed in a roomor chamber apprepriatedtherefor, for example, fas in baking, cooking, cooling, drying andsfad 'procedures involving, as tlfiegr do, the` st acting et the materials a'sfoeds, to the effects 'attiretemA perature of the air 'contained in the saidroom, there has .long been experienced considerable dime/nity inconvenience ydue do inedu 'ities and une-venness of the temperature ai saidroorn.

Accordingly there can llee no certainty as to,

The said `general object, also other andparr ticular aims, as will presently appear, which are devoted to features making the apparatus eco*- nomi'cal of construction, installation and operation, and durable and dependable, are vafccor'n- @lished by, and my invention Yis embodied in the new construction, combination and arrangement o'fy parts described in the following specification and illustrated Vin the aceori'iparyin drawings'.

vTh Sel/Bral parts; '0f the" IIVESlJlOIl, 'Sle EH5- pr" th dleit vl'eWS in 'the drawings, alle identified by lsuitable characters o'f reference In the drawings,

Figure l is a front View of my' invention 'as it appears' in a typical embodiment intendedf for a treating room of conventional dimensions, 'for example, 'about fourteen feet in length, ten feet in Width, and nine ifet in height.

Figure 2 "is a top plan view, in 'the directionL of arrow 2 in Figure l, the greater portion of 'the' ceilingl ofthe room being broken away.

Figure 3 is a.- lon-gitudinal vertical sectional view, on the broken line 3-33, inthe direction or arrow 3 in Figure l.

Figure 4' is a vertical transverse seetierialv View taken on broken line "1 -4', in the direction of arrow l in Figure 2, the diagrammatical lines thereinV indicating the directiduall movement' cfair currents.

Figure 5 is a.' Ve'l'tlai longitudinal Sectional breiten 'iirie in 'direction Y M pertain f'tiie'waiior' tneair receivingcliam er -siiown therein, being breien'A away'.

Figure'- ieis an enlarge mariani-leraren t Fgur 7 is aiagimrra ic side viewof 'one 'df the' neateireh'angr devices and terrine" nire Geriatria, s' il iievicei an@ 'ceri-eraser view the yerre Y rig* casing "is parti-airy brekenaWay, to lisclo's'e the surface domijs'd as of r A' l 'Fi fia "is a pian view er or are `surface sections, as i, removed.

Finir" e' a' off eiec'ro- "ec'iiariicai iii @entrainer the' veloci es -of nie disciiar'gaf the air" Byrne Figure re a verri/aai cross section View', ar-

brekenline rai-al n?, 'the directibn or anni rifinfiglire n9". n

ifi is sact'icgnai top 'pian View, in breiten line in, in the direction or arrow 1r Figure 9. p FigureA u12 is an enlarged cross semantica, 'in- 'ta'ke'rr fori b'roke li f 12b-1i? 'in the' 'direc- 13 is an eiiiar Ai cross-section view, rnaetaii, mi -bror'eiir3' is rig'irre iii Figure isa 'wp iianviewf; in' en@ 'direct-ion oi arrow flll'r n Figire- Figure '155 isanigrairir if the' 'electric Figi-1re ie diaffrania'zicai tcp" 'pian iiiare a ef' iai/eri .riga-fe it a ysra@ riewfinuseraave @fr rever operated damper dev ice for adjustable control or fair inietas in Fciire 1(5- chamber of i rta-ole character in Y fy apparat-,u adaptelfor use `sf rtrijgfiilatii in t portin'siibf tlie bppsiil iniltud beine' inwil'tli Suitable openings in an end ll tl'ie rodn'i are 'pro/vim with cies/urefneers 2t fairciu access Iier' the' nisposifg 1mg-f' and r'or ine remorsing fram said' roem;I vessels or racks containing or supporting the? which; are tof :rief treated.I

elongated stcture, rectangular in cross. section; of sheet metaltaaid of vlength coexten'sivewith the" lengthi or the room, :is des: ignated. as' air receiving '2f-I. t is se-f cured atr positionaat imidway :bi-:tweeni the,` side-'mils the roomgfas Hy screws or bolts angle: clips 122 arranged :at

suitable locations. From end to end of the underside of said air receiving chamber are spaced holes designated as intakes 24. Wall 25 closes the rear end of said chamber 2|. The forward end of said chamber is passed through the front wall 2S of the said room and it embodies a downwardly directed elbow 2l.

At the ceiling and at the upper portion of each of the side walls of the room, is an elongated hollow structure, made of suitable air conducting material, as sheet metal. It is of length coextensive with the length of the room, and is of dimensions in cross section slightly less than the cross section dimensions of said air receiving chamber. It is secured in place as by lag screws passed through angle clips 30 at suitable locations. From end to end of these hollow structures, and which I designate as plenum chambers 28 and 38, are successively arranged longitudinal slots. At each of these slots is a downwardly directed nozzle, the parallel sides of which are convergent thereby providing a narrow mouth 32. 23 designates the nozzles of plenum chamber '28. 33 designates the nozzles of plenum chamber 38. The nozzles of one chamber are so spaced as to be in alternated or staggered relation to the nozzles of the other chamber. A wall 34 closes the rear end of each plenum chamber, and the forward end of each plenum chamber is passed through the frontal wall 26 of the said room, and it embodies a downwardly turned elbow.

Connected to the elbow 21 of said air receiving chamber is a downwardly directed part 36.

Connected to the part 36 of said air receiving chamber, is a duct consisting of a section 39 and a section 43. Each is rectangular in cross section. Section 39 is fashioned at its lower end to circular formation where it is connected to the inlet mouth of a fan 4|. Section 43 is connected at its lower end to the outlet 42 of fan 4|. It is enlarged at its upper portion to constitute a casing 41 within which is retained a heat exchanger. The said casing at its upper portion is connected to the elbow 35 of the adjacent plenum chamber 28.

Connected to the part 36 of said air receiving chamber, is a duct consisting of a, section 49 and a section 53. Each is rectangular in cross section, Section 49 is fashioned at its lower end to circular formation where it is connected at its lower end to the inlet mouth of fan 5|. It is enlarged at its upper portion to constitute a casing 51 within which is retained a heat exchanger. The said casing at its upper portion is connected to the elbow 45 of the adjacent plenum chamber 38.

The said duct sections,fans, and heat exchangers, while similar to each other respectively, in form and function, are described and idented separately for convenience presently, in explaining the operation of the invention.

Each of said fans is electric motor driven. Each is conventional.

The degree of temperature, with regard to the treating which is to occur in the room, is afforded by means of the heat exchangers. These devices being similar, reference thereto is made in the singular. Such device being well known as to construction and function, brief reference only, to same, is deemed necessary. It comprises surface units consisting of interrelated rectangular sections 48 which are supplied, as by steam through a pipe system including usual main 46, and return line 52. The said sections 48 function to change the degree of the temperature of the air that passes therethrough, and to discharge or output the air which has been so changed in temperature. In connection with each of said heat exchangers is a conventional installation comprising temperature recording instrument 56, and the usual piping therefor as indicated in Figure 7. It is responsive to the temperature of the incoming air, to maintain the temperature that is predetermined for the air put out; that is to say-the air that passes beyond the surface unit sections 43. The combination of this temperature-degree control installation with the heat exchanger is such that any degree of temperature that is predetermined for the air content of the room is had.

The said fans 4| and 5| function to draw air from the air content of the room through the air receiving chamber 2|, ducts 39 and 49 and into the fans, whence it is propelled through the duct sections 43-53, heat exchangers, plenum chambers :E3-38 and the nozzles thereof. My invention includes, in combination with the elements above described, means for controlling the velocity of the discharge through the nozzles of the plenum chamber, that is to say, for controlling the velocity of the air currents propelled by the fans. See Figures 9 and 14.

Supported by spaced opposed upright plates tl and 52 which are secured to a suitable base or panel 65, are two sets of resistance coils, three in each set; one set being above the other. The coils of the upper set are indicated by the numerals 64, 55 and 55. The coils of the lower set are indicated by the numerals t1, 68, 69. Coils t4, 55, 65 are individually connected, by the wiring as indicated in Figure l5, to the three phases of the wound rotor of the motor of fan 4|. Similarly, the coils 61, 58, 69 are individually connected to the phases of the wound rotor of the fan 5|. Conductors lil and 1| interconnect ends of the three coils of each of the sets, that are opposite to the ends that are connected to the rotor. The ends of coils 64, 65, |56 that connect to the wound rotor of motor 4|, are opposite the ends of coils 61, 68, 69 that connect to the wound rotor of motor 5|.

Journaled in bearings therefor in the said frame plates 6| and 62 at a plane parallel with and equidistant from said sets of coils, is a threaded drive shaft 12 which is retained against longitudinal movement, as by collars 13 secured thereto and which engage said plates. Said drive shaft is threaded through bore therefor in a cross member which I designate as shunt bar 15. The ends of this shunt bar are in slidable interconnection with longitudinal guide bars 16 and 11 which are secured at their ends to the said frame plates 6| and 62.

Carried by, but insulated from said shunt bar, at its top side, are brushes 64a, 55a, and 66a which are in engagement with the resistance coils 64, 55 and 66, respectively.

Carried by, but insulated from said shunt bar, at its bottom side, are brushes 61a, 68a and 59a which are in engagement with the resistance coils 61, 68 and 59. The said brushes for each set of coils are interconnected by conductors 8|.

Secured to the end of drive shaft 12 is a pulley 82. Positioned adjacent thereto is a three phase ratio motor 83 with its pulley 84 belted to said pulley 82. The power thus transmitted causes rotation of the threaded drive shaft 12 at a given rate of speed.

One of the said pulleys, namely pulley 82. be-

5 ing adjustable in pitch diameter, thespeed rate: ofn shaft TZ'may be adjusted.

Supported loosely iii-holes provided therefor in the framev plates 6l and 62, and inv parallelism withsaidguide bars, is a pushrod 86. Spaced set-collars 8l, adjustable to desired positions onv said push rod', are inthe path traversed by the said-shunt bar '55, as indicated in Figure-11 ofthe drawings. At alocation adjacent to said push rod, andsuitably mounted on said base plateSS, isfa conventional snap action double throw limit switch 95A having operating arm 9B of doublecam type as shown in detail inFigures 13` and` 14e. The` said push rod embodies at the oppositefsides of the flattened end portion thereof, studs 90- and 9|.' The positions-of'these studs, withrela tion 4to the said operating arm-ofthe limit switch are--asindicatedfin Figure 13 and Figure 14, one stud'being in advance of the other, whereby-upon a movement of the -push rod from either one-of'- two-positions, the said operating armis n'i-ovedA from one to the other of its two positions, thereby the' said switchbeing operated. Connected to said. limit switch, as by the wiring 9-1 isa conventional magnetic reversing starter 98l which, irl-turn,v is in wired connection 99- with the ratio motorv 83.

Coincident withthe engagement by said shuntY bar as it nears the end of each stroke, with onel or the other of said` set-collars 81 there is- (through the engagement by one or the other of said-studs SO-SD actuation of operating arm 95, throw. of the limit switch, andreversing of the motionof the ratio motor. reciprocative travel of the-shunt bar,` the brushes thereof in constant Contact with the resistance coils .there` is the regular increaseof resistance in the cois of one-fan circuit, andthe regularV decrease ofresistance in the coils-ofthe otherfan circuit.

By:` the` electro-mechanical organization described, when the resistance in the circuit of one fan is decreasing, the resistance in the circuit of the other fan is increasing. Accordingly, the speed of one of the fan motors is. accelerating while the speed of the other fan motor is decelerating.

It is this performance of the electro-mechanicali organization thai'J makes.. possible the new and; peculiar` control of flow of` air currents i Wherebir. the. temperature in theroom mayv be. made and maintained uniform andjequable.-

Resnltant ofthe control of the .speed oi?Y opera-V tiongeach; of said fans, so that when onenfanis. operating at minimum speed and the other is operating at maximum speed, (both fans operating at the same speed when midway between minimum and maximum), there is obtained a differentiation of velocity of air discharge from the nozzles of one of the plenum chambers, from the velocity of the air discharge from the nozzles of the other plenum chamber. Accordingly the air volume which is displaced by the downward currents from the nozzles at the opposite sides of the room, is caused to move transversely, its mass at the zone of intermingling being deflected upwardly consisting of directly intermingling whirling columns, each of form of an inverted cone. Deection, at the lower zone of the room, of the downward flow of the air discharge through the nozzles, is facilitated by the fillets I9 and I9 at the bases of the opposite walls of the room. Incident to the effect of the diiferentiating velocities of the downward currents from the said nozzles, is the movement of said mass Accordingly with the 6 volumen-om sidetofside.' Resultantofthe above described performance of the air currents and" the movement of said-mass, is the composing of? diierentiating temperatures, and ofdiieren-l matically modified so that the predeterm'ir'ied temperature for the air content of the room'is restored.

Operation Upon. closing the switches lill-|02, the? circuits through the three phase motors are closedy andthe fans lll- 5l are in operation in thedi'-VV reetiony of varrow in Figure-3.

Closing of switch |03 sets in motion ther-ratio motor 83 and the drive shaft 'I2 (see Figure 11)., the shunt bar T5 thereby being moved along. its

, gu-idebars.

The operator now opens valve [G4 of the main it (see Figure 7), then sets the controller 56 for the degree desired for the room temperature. After a period of a few minutes, the desired de-Y .gree of room temperature will have been obtained.

rThe room temperature being in readinessy.

there is brought and suitably supported at suitable height in the room, about twenty-four to.,

thirty inches, in vessels or upon racks, the mar.;

terial to be treated. Then the gasketed door'ordoors 2t are closed.

By reason of the suction `operating through the intakes of the air receiving chamber, and of the'- propulsion operating through the nozzles of the` plenum chambers, and of the effect thussl'iad.v on

the room `air content, .asf hereinbefore described?, tl'ietemperatureA of the` room is uniformizedsland-f` theV treated materialis: equablyaffected.l through.v

The invention is usefulsin activities asin Abalting, cooking, drying; coolingcuring and'. smoking. Whether thef'temperaturew of;l the roomisi`v high in degree or low in degree, withrelation toithe temperature: of the product as introduced@V into the; room, the diierentiating velocities'liof discharge'from the. plenum chambers are operative to uniformize and to: maintain uniformkthe temperatureot` the air'content'of the room. procedures,- involving smoking:V the;V materiahlthere is utilized an inlet fitting and damper |01 disposed in the elbow 2l of the air receiving chamber, and to which said tting attachments may be made for receiving smoke from any suitable source.

My invention is adaptable to situations where there are used fans of the type having adjustable inlet opening control (see modification indicated in Figure 16) that is to say-dampers each having means operable to vary the degree of opening of the fan inlet, as by a lever arm operable between two positions. In such adaptation, the ends of the duct sections 39-49 are altered to fitting connection with the circular flanges |09 of the inlets of said fans. Bell cranks suitably fulcrumed at locations adjacent to said fans have their weight arms IH pivotally connected to rods I l2 which in turn are pivotally connected to the lever arms H3 of the dampers H4. Interconnecting the power arms H5 of said bell.

cranks by pivotal connections is a reach rod I I6. At an intermediate position on said reach rod is a suitable connection, as by set collars Ill with the shunt bar 'l5 which is operable as hereinbefore described. Trip lugs H set at adjusted positions on said reach rod perform the function of actuating the limit switch 95 at regular intervals. The ratio motor in turn, through threaded shaft 12 moves the shunt bar. Thus there is obtained, by varying the degree of opening of the fan inlet, a simultaneous lessening of the velocity of air propulsion by one fan, and increasing of the velocity of air propulsion by the other fan. y

While in the typical embodiment of my invention herein illustrated and described, details of preferred form and arrangement are shown, I wishit to be understood that modications may be made Within the scope of the invention as it is dened in the claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacricing any of its advantages.

1. Apparatus of 'the kind described comprising a treating room, an air receiving chamber to receive air from said room and located adjacent to the ceiling thereof, plenum chambers spaced from said air receiving chamber and at the side walls of said room and provided with successively arranged downwardly directed nozzles, a duct interconnecting the air receiving chamber and one of the plenum chambers, a second duct interconnecting the air-receiving chamber with the other of said plenum chambers, separate air blowers connected to each of the ducts, means to control the rate of air llow through said blowers, actuating means for said control means, and means interconnecting said actuating means to simultaneously and reversely actuate said control means to increase llow through one duct and decrease flow through said second duct.

2. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a treating room, an air receiving chamber to receive air from said room and located adjacent to and which is of length coextensive with the ceiling of said room and is provided with successive- 1y arranged intakes, plenum chambers spaced from said air receiving chamber and at the side walls of said room and of length coextensive therewith and provided with successively arranged downwardly directed discharge nozzles, a duct interconnecting the air receiving chamber and one of the plenum chambers, a second duct interconnecting the air receiving chamber with the other of said plenum chambers, a heat eX- changer device in each duct, separate air blowers connected to each of said ducts, means to control the rate of air oW through the said blowers, actuating means for said control means, and means interconnecting said actuating means to simultaneously and reversely actuate the said control means to increase flow through one duct and to decrease ow through the said second duct.

3. The invention as dened in claim 2 in which said actuating means for said control means includes an electric motor, and said means interconnecting said motor includes a double pole switch and a magnetic reversing sta-rter.

4. Apparatus for providing temperaturev of predetermined degree desired for the air content of a treating room and for maintaining `uniformity of said temperature throughout the room, consisting of and in combination With the room, an elongated air receiving chamber to receive air from said room and positioned in the upper zone of said room and of length coextensive therewith and provided at its under side with successively spaced intakes, plenum chambers spaced from said air receiving chamber and in parallelism therewith in the upper zone of said room, and provided with successively spaced downwardly directed nozzles, a duct interconnecting the air receiving chamber and one of the plenum chambers, a second duct interconnecting the air receiving chamber with the other of said plenum chambers, a heat exchanger device in each of said ducts operable to provide temperature of the degree desired for the air content of said room, separate air blowers connected to each of said ducts, means to control the rate of air flow through said blowers, actuating means for said control means, and means interconnecting said actuating means to simultaneously and reversely actuate said control means to increase flow through one duct and decrease flow through the second duct.

ALEX A. SCHRAMM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,167,844 Rush Jan. 11, 1916 1,451,747 Tiemann et al Apr. 17, 1923 1,599,797 Stacey Sept. 14, 1926 1,791,498 Halliburton et al. Feb. 10, 1931 2,006,018 Goodall June 25, 1935 2,380,428 Gilliam July 3l, 1945 

